Garment closure



2,802,215 GARMENT CLOSURE Harry Alfandre, Jamaica, N. Y.

Application April 27,1955, Serial No. 504,295 3 Claims. (Cl. 2-'-265) This invention relates generally to a garment closure and, more particularly, to a garment closure for a ladys undergarment, and the like.

The primary aim and object of the present invention is the provision of a releasable type garment closure which is adapted to present a smooth and cushioned surface for contact with the wearers skin. Pursuant tothis object of the present invention the rigid fastener elements of the closure and the means for securing the fastener elements thereto are effectively cushioned whereby the. sur face of the closure adapted to contact thewearers skin is both smooth and comfortable to the wearer.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a garment closure of the aforenoted character which is' simple in design and construction, which may be mass produced at low cost, and which is eminently suitable for its intended purpose.

The above and other object, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from' the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawing which illustrates the best mode n'ow contemplated by me for carrying out my invention:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a garment, in body encircling relation on the wearer, having a closure formed according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, on an enlarged scale, taken on" the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective outer face view of a composite fastener segment formed according to the present invention with parts thereof shown in partially disassembled relationship to reveal structural details;

Fig. 4 is a perspective inner face view of the composite fastener segment with parts thereof shown in partially disassembled relation to reveal structural details;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the 'line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3; Referring to the drawing in detail, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a garment 10 disposed in body encircling relation on the wearer W, said garment of the instant embodiment being a b'rassiere although it will be understood that the garment closure of the present invention may be utilized for any type of ladyls undergarment, and the like. The brassiere 10 includes rea'r band portions 12 and 14 which are releasably secured to each other by means of the garment closure 16, said garment closure being disposed in contact With the wearerfs skin as is usual with garment closures of this general character. The garment closure 16 comprises complementary releasably interengageable fastener segments 18 and 20 having releasably interengageable fastener elements 22 and 24, respectively, secured thereto.

The composite fastener segment 20 comprises fabric material 26 having a plurality of spaced fastener elements 24 secured thereto and exposed on one face 28 thereof, said fastener elements of the instant embodiment a nited States PatentO 2,802,21 Patented Aug 1 3, 19?? being arranged in laterally spaced rows r with each of said rows comprising a series of spaced fastener elements 24. It will be understood that the fastener elements 24, which are in the form of eyes, may be spaced'and ar; ranged on the fabric material 26 in any desired manner and that any desired number of elements may be utilized. Pursuant to the usual construction, each row r of eyes 24 is adapted for releasable interengagement with the single row r of companion hooks 22 which are spaced corresponding to the spacing of said eyes, the plural number of rows r providing for a range of adjustability of the garment closure.

The fabric material 26 comprises a base layer 30 having folded over portions 32 which are collectively coextensive with said base layer. superposed on the folded over portions 32 of the layer 30 are a plurality of securement strips 34 having folded over marginal edge portions 36, said securement strips being secured to the base layer 30, with the eyes 24 disposed there'- between, by means of the lines of stitching 38. Each of the eyes 24 includes a pair of eyelets 40 which are adapted for securement to the fabric material 26 for securing the eyes 24 thereto, said lines of stitching 38 including transverse portions 42 which extend through said eyelets and said fabric material. Accordingly, the lines of stitching 38' provide for the securement of the strips 34 and the eyes 24 to the base layer 30. It will be apparent from Fig. 4 that the lines of stitching 38, including the portions 42 thereof which extend through the eyelets 40, extend through to the" inner face 44 of the fabric material 26 leaving said face with a degree of roughness. The marginal edge portions '36 of the securement strips 34 are thus constituted by doubled over portions of said strips and said marginal edge portions overlie the eyelets 40 and are secured to the fabric layer 30 by the lines of stitching 38. The marginal strip 48 of the outermost securementstrip 34' is folded over said strip to provide a finished outer edge therefor. It will be understood that the fastener elements or eyes24 may be secured to the fabric material 26 in any desired manner and that said fabric material may be of any desired form and construction, the specific arrangement illustrated and described herein being given by way of example only.

Pursuant to the present invention, a layer of soft textured fabric material 50 is disposed in overlying relation with the face 44 of the fabric material 26 in order to cushion the rigid eyes 24 and the stitching 38 from the wearer when the closure 16 is disposed in contact with the wearer, there being provided a backing layer 52 of any suitable textile material for said cushioning layer 50. The backing layer 52 is provided with doubled over opposite marginal ed e portions 54 which are folded over opposite edges of the fabric material 26, the layers 50 and 52 being secured to said fabric material by means of the lines of stitching 56 which extend through said marginal edge portions 54, said fabric material and said fabric layers, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Accordingly the lines ofstitching, 56 secure the fabric layers 50 and 52 in assembled relation with. the fabric" material 26, the latter having eyes 24 secured thereto and exposed on one face thereof; The backing layer 52, intermediate the edges 55 thereof, and the soft textured layer 50 are substantially coextensive with the fabric material 26. The fabric layer 50 may be formed of any suitable soft textured or cushioning material such as a fabric material in order to cushion the fastener elements 24 and the stitching 38 from the wearer of the garment. The backing layer 52 constitutes a covering for the layer 50 and protects the latter, said backing layer presenting a smooth surface for contact with the wearer.

In practice, the composite fabric segment 20 constitutes a length of continuous composite fastener strip material to the wearer.

' garment 10, for example by means of zig-zag stitching 62, the opposite free edge 64 being suitably finished in any desired manner as by means of zig-zag stitching cor- -l'esponding to the stitching 62. The composite fastener segment 18 is secured to the band portion 12 of the garment through the intermediation of a length of resiliently expansible strip material 66, one edge 68 of said strip ma terial being secured to the band portion 12 by means of the zigzag stitching 70 with the opposite edge 72 of said strip material being secured to said composite fastener segment by means of zig-zag stitching 74. It will be understood that, if desired, the resiliently expansible strip material 66 may be associated with the composite fastener segment 20 whereby said fastener segment may be extended relative to the band portion 14.

In the fastened condition of the closure 16, the layer 52 of the fastener segment 20, which presents a smooth substantially uninterrupted surface, is in direct contact with the skin so as to be both smooth and comfortable It will be apparent that the layer 50 of soft textured material effectively cushions the rigid fastener elements 24 and the stitching 38, including the portions 42 thereof, from the Wearers skin whereby the closure 16 when in contact with the wearers skin is both smooth and comfortable to the wearer.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A garment closure element comprising a longitudinally extending base layer of fabric material, a plurality of securement strips superposed in overlapping relation on one side of said base layer transversely of its length, fastener elements disposed in groups arranged in spaced relation longitudinally of said base layer, each group including a plurality of said elements disposed in laterally spaced relation transversely of said base layer, said fastener elements having parts secured between overlapping portions of adjacent securement strips, each of said securement strips being secured to said base layer and said overlapping portion of the overlapping strip by a transverse line of stitching, said stitching being also operable to secure said parts of said fastener elements in position between said overlapping portions of said securement strips, a layer of soft textured fabric material overlying the opposite side of said base layer to cushion the wearers skin from said fastener means and from the stitching exposed at said other side of said base layer, a longitudinally extending fabric backing layer overlying said soft textured fabric material, said backing layer having opposite marginal edge portions folded over the edges of said first mentioned layer and overlying the opposite end portions, respectively, of said securement strips, and lines of stitching extending through said marginal edge portions for securing said backing layer, cushioning layer, base layer, and securement strips, saidbacking layer being adapted to contact the wearers skin and presenting a smooth with said base layer.

2. A garment closure element comprising a longitudmally extending base layer of fabric material, a plurality of securement strips superposed in overlapping relation on one side of said base layer transversely of its length, fastener elements disposed in groups arranged in spaced relation longitudinally of said base layer, each group including a plurality of said elements disposed in laterally spaced relation transversely of said base layer, said fastener elements having parts secured between overlapping portions of adjacent securement strips, each of said securement strips being secured to said base layer and said overlapping portion of the overlying strip by a transverse line of stitching, said stitching being also operable to secure said parts of said fastener elements in position between said overlapping portions of said securement strips, a longitudinally extending fabric backing layer having opposite marginal edge portions folded over the edges of said first mentioned layer and overlying the opposite end portions, respectively, of said securement strips, said last mentioned folded over marginal edge portions each having an inward fold to present smooth longitudinally extending edges to the surface of said securement strips, and lines of stitching extending through said marginal edge portions for securing said backing layer, base layer, and securement strips, said backing layer being adapted to contact the wearers skin and presenting a smooth uninterrupted surface for contact therewith, said backing layer intermediate said marginal portions thereof being substantially co-extensive with said base layer.

3. A garment closure element comprising a longitudinally extending base layer of fabric material, a plurality of securement strips having folded over marginal edge portions superposed in overlapping relation on one side of said base layer transversely of its length, eyes having companion eyelets disposed in groups arranged in spaced relation longitudinally of said base layer, each group including a plurality of said eyes disposed in laterally spaced relation transversely of said base layer, said eyelets being secured between overlapping portions of adjacent securement strips, each of said securement strips being secured to said base layer and said overlapping portion of the overlying strip by a transverse line of stitching, said stitching being also operable to secure said eyelets of said eyes in position between said overlapping portions of said securement strips, a layer of soft textured fabric material overlying the opposite side of said base layer to cushion the wearers skin from said eyes and from the stitching exposed at said other side of said base layer, a longitudinally extending fabric backing layer overlying said soft textured fabric material, said backing layer having opposite marginal edge portions folded over the edges of said first mentioned layer and overlying the end portions, respectively, of said securement strips, said last mentioned folded over marginal edge portions each having an inward fold to present smooth longitudinally extending edges to the surface of said securement strips, and

lines of stitching extending through said marginal edge portions for securing together said backing layer, cushioning layer, base layer, and securement strips, said backing layer being adapted to contact the wearers skin and presenting a smooth uninterrupted surface for contact therewith, said backing layer intermediate said marginal portions thereof and said soft textured layer being substantially co-extensive with said base layer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,039,829 OBrien May 5, 1936 2,225,514 Wipperman Dec. 17, 1940 2,444,829 Karcher July 6, 1948 2,562,669 Keller July 31, 1951 2,653,323 Ganim Sept. 29, 1953 V FOREIGN PATENTS 406,450 Great Britain Mar. 1, 1934 

